Important findings, the weaknesses:
Read the article 6 Perspectives on Women in the Boardroom, Plus 3 Tips for an Effective Board: FTSE 100 Breakfast Panel at the Glass Hammer for the full information.
Roni (Veronica “Roni” Noone) is an inspiration to many many women.
Roni’s daily blog posts, tweets, and video posts have created a
fiercely loyal following of readers. On average, more than 3,500 people visit Roni’s Weigh, GreenLiteBites and BlogToLose each day. Roni has also gained notoriety by being quoted and published in many publications including: Women’s World, Wired and The Baltimore Sun. She’s also been a speaker at various events, including BlogHer DC - Reach Out Tour and BlogHer 2009.
Currently, Veronica is training for the 2009 Baltimore Marathon. In
March 2010, she will host the first ever FitBloggin’ conference in Baltimore,
Maryland - a place for new and seasoned health, wellness, weight loss and
fitness bloggers to come together for knowledge, personal growth and
networking.
RECIPIENTS
Jacqueline Silas-Butler starts her day early to make sure children in Akron get the head start they need to succeed.
Jacqueline F. Woods established herself as one of Northeast Ohio’s most influential women while leading AT&T Ohio. Now in retirement, she continues taking risks, finding new challenges and helping a new generation of women.Since 1982, the ATHENA Awards have celebrated women and men throughout the
world who have made a difference in their communities, their professions and the
lives of women around them.The 10 finalists of Northeast Ohio’s 2009 ATHENA Awards come from a range of backgrounds: large corporations and nonprofit organizations, public service and private firms. But they also share a common bond. Through their leadership, they’ve made our region a better place to live and work.
ATHENA Award Finalists: Lisa Rose, Linda F.R. Omobien, Radhika Reddy, Kimberly Haws Falasco, Margaret Payne, Holly Harris Bane, Jacqueline F. Woods, Jacqueline Silas-Butler, Paul Clark, Heather Roulston Ettinger
Young Professional Award Winners: Lynnette Jackson and Katie Herbst
The 2009 ATHENA Award finalists are:
The ATHENA® Award finalists from Northeast Ohio will be honored tonight at the awards Dinner and Celebration at the Embassy Suites Cleveland-Rockside in Independence, Ohio.
Named in recognition of the Greek goddess of wisdom and courage, ATHENA International honors outstanding individuals who have achieved professional excellence, given back to their communities and helped other women reach their full potential by creating leadership opportunities for women here in Northeast Ohio.
Past recipients of this prestigious and nationally-renowned award have started and managed companies, launched products, repositioned brands and influenced business enthusiasts in myriad ways.
Question 23: Give us an example of a situation where you faced conflict or difficult communication problems.
This is not the time to tell the interviewer how much you hate your current boss or colleagues!
It’s also not the point to launch into a tirade about how difficult people in your office are to work with and how many arguments you have.
So what are they looking for? They’re looking for someone who can rise above conflict and diffuse the emotions, finding a win-win solution.
Basically, recruiters want to employ people who will get on well with others, whilst still delivering the company’s objectives.
This type of question is your chance to demonstrate your interpersonal and team-working skills.
The interviewer will be looking for maturity and the ability to be able to keep your calm, whilst others around you are losing theirs. Don’t feel you have to provide an answer that gives you full credit for the solution – it can often be more powerful (if it’s true) to demonstrate how you worked with others to find a fix.
Practice your answer to this question. It can have many guises, but is almost guaranteed to be asked in some form.
Greg Watkins, President of the Capstone Search Group alerted me to a "no fee" Job Seeker Workshop in Columbus, Ohio on September 10, 2009 at 6 pm. 
The Akron Public Library has a tremendous resource for those who are transitioning careers, job hunting or simply honing their interviewing skills. I was blown away by the depth and breadth of these resources. 
I had the pleasure of attending an inspirational evening on Thursday where Martha Mayhood Mertz, the founder of ATHENA International, came to Cleveland, Ohio.
NEW DELHI, June 3 (UPI) -- A member of a lower caste in the now outlawed caste system, Meira Kumar, Wednesday was unanimously elected the first woman speaker of India's parliament.
The 64-year-old lawmaker from the Congress party, whose coalition government was returned to power after last month's elections, will hold the country's top Constitutional post, the Press Trust of India reported. She was elected unopposed.
A resolution in parliament naming her speaker, which was moved by Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress-led coalition, was approved by a voice vote in the lower house of parliament. Leaders of all major opposition parties also had similar motions proposing her name for the post.
Kumar, a member of the Dalit community, is a former Indian Foreign Service officer and also had been a federal minister.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who belongs to the minority Sikh community, said Kumar's selection is a historic moment for the country, and praised her service as a distinguished diplomat and 25 years in parliament, PTI reported.
Kumar said she would make every effort to ensure the dignity of the lower house and its members.
She is the daughter of the late Jagjivan Ram, a former deputy prime minister of India.
India already has a woman President.
Considering an internship? You'll want to read the this recent study of 125 companies internship practices and pay rates in this 42 page PowerPoint report of the 2009 study.
Created by the Employers Resource Council and Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, it was designed to provide Northeast Ohio employers with important information regarding internship employment practices to help them better attract, retain and develop new talent that will stimulate their long-term growth and success. I think that it also can help interns better understand what a company is looking for and how the process works.
It includes answers to questions like:
Jot down the words that entered your head when you read those questions. This is the beginning of a mind map, which is a way to capture feelings, thoughts and images all on a piece of paper. It's a great way to begin to organize your strategy on positioning yourself as a brand.
If you are an Indie Business owner, rest assured that the next generation of entrepreneurs is watching you. They are looking to see you try new things, to observe what works and what doesn’t work. They’re watching what you say and what you do. They’re receiving guidance and direction from you when they visit your website, your blog, your Twitter page, your Facebook page, your YouTube page.
The JobMagnet.org advanced manufacturing employment portal served Northeast Ohio employers, job seekers and students from June 2007 through December 2008. MAGNET thanks the hundreds of employers and job seekers who have used the JobMagnet.org database over the past 18 months.
On Monday I attended the ATHENA International Leadership Summit where women's organizations discussed women in leadership. Interesting and dynamic discussions developed and I enjoyed learning more about each organization's role and leadership programs.
Read more about how Bella Rokhman helps people. Bella Rokhman owns ABC International Employment Services, Inc of Solon, Ohio USA.
Returnships will resonate with anyone who temporarily left the work force, or wished that they could have. Your brands will benefit -- I predict you will see them tossed into lots of shopping carts.
Sara Lee, which operates brands including Ball Park, Hillshire Farms and Jimmy Dean, can't promise full-time positions for the participants at the end of their returnship. The company laid off 300 of its 1,200 staffers in April; 100 of them worked at the headquarters. But there's always a need for talent, Barnes says. Women (and men) who want a slice of the pie should submit applications this fall for a February 2009 start.Thanks for the info Marti!
• Think globally (Learn Chinese!)
• Listen.
• Ask the right question to the right person at the right time
• Find your passion
• Be humble
• Do what you are
• Acknowledge your weaknesses and play to your strengths
• Be a continuous learner
• Don’t fear change. Take advantage of it and view it as an opportunity
• Change if you're not having fun -- careers, companies or positions.
• Be an expert in your field
• Develop your “people” skills.
Maureen Isern is the producer and owner of MOPED PRODUCTIONS, a New York City-based video production company serving philanthropic businesses and non-profit organizations to help them "mobilize their mission" through the use of video, audio and photography. Her company is an award-winning, full-service media consulting and production company dedicated to turning her clients' mission into a powerful, customized visual message.
Today she shares insights into her career choices and video production business in this interview:
How did you select this type of business?
I saw an opportunity to tell the stories of organizations that were doing good things, in a way that would illuminate them more expansively and draw in new donors, volunteers and recognition. Non-profits, community organizations, and philanthropic businesses are often reluctant to ‘advertise’ -- in a way, believing that people will give credit where credit is due. I agree the credit is due. But the media pool is so much bigger now. These organizations are only given the chance to shine when they create their own spotlight.
Best thing about my job: We get to help those who are helping others. We get to work with organizations that are having incredible impacts on our communities and it’s very fulfilling to help mobilize their missions through media.
Biggest challenge: As a young media company, it’s easy to be distracted with the hundreds of directions we could potentially go in. There’s so much overlap now between content development and marketing/branding – between web, print and tv – that I want to make sure we offer a robust level of service that meets multiple needs, and at the same maintain that sky-high level of quality and know-how.
Biggest surprise: Things seem to be taking a turn for the better in our business, even during this recession, in that groups are realizing the importance of talking about what they’re doing. They seem to be more receptive to creative directions they may have not considered before – both in terms of messaging and distribution. The tight purse strings are pushing them to be more resourceful, more forward-thinking and more experimental than the non-profit sector has tended to be in the past.
I worry about: making Moped a secure, reliable place to work as a creative professional. In this economic situation and witnessing the downsizing throughout major media companies and non-profits alike, it’s worrisome to think the industry workflow may slow down and a freelancer who counts on me may not have a project for a few weeks. So far, we’re in solid shape, but it’s something that keeps my brain spinning sometimes.
What training did you have? I studied communication and journalism at FSU and FAMU, interned at the WOFL-FOX station in Orlando, and trained as a production assistant and associate producer at WCTV-CBS in Tallahassee, Florida during my last year in college.
Chitra Matthai, my good friend from our AM Akron Toastmaster's group, recently achieved a major milestone.The lab provides students with a place to be inspired to achieve excellence, including all of the “bells and whistles” for stimulating minds. The technology available in the space is top rate, with students having access to all of the necessary tools to make business happen.
I think that this is another powerful tool for growth of Northeast Ohio. Read more here: Kent State Dedicates John S. Brinzo Entrepreneurial Lab
More local entrepreneurship news:
Are you thinking of starting a business? There are many places to look for helpful resources.
Are you a business owner? What resources do you use to gain additional knowledge? Feel free to comment!
In a post called the GROWING PRODUCTIVITY DIVIDE Seth Godin wrote a quick quiz with tools you need to know how to use to make your work more productive.1. Can you capture something you see on your screen and paste it into Word or PowerPoint?
2. Do you have a blog?
3. Can you open a link you get in an email message?
4. Do you read more than five blogs a day?
5. Do you have a signature in your outbound email?
6. Do you have an RSS reader?
7. Can you generate a PDF document from a Word file you're working on?
8. Do you know how to build and share a simple spreadsheet using Google Docs?
9. Do have a shortcut for sending mail to the six co-workers you usually write to?
10. Are you able to find what you're looking for on Google most of the time?
11. Do you know how to download a file from the internet?
12. Do you back up your work?
13. Do you keep track of contacts using a digital tool?
14. Do you use anti-virus software?
15. Do you fall for internet hoaxes and forward stuff to friends and then regret it?
16. Have you ever bought something from a piece of spam?
How many did you say yes to? (Hopefully the answers top 15 and 16 were NO.) How many questions did you say "what's RSS? or Google Docs? or PDF software costs too much!"
If you're trying to make the transition into the workforce and found you didn't have a high score, you may want to use this list as a springboard to learn how to become more productive.
When you go for an interview and the person says something like:
"Why should I hire you?"
You will have something to say.
Print out this list. Learn a new skill each week and continue to use it. And when the interviewer asks, you can say: "You should hire me because I am extremely productive. I know and use many computer shortcuts and can help other people in the office learn them as well." Then whip out your list with check marks after each of the 16 questions and leave it with the interviewer. Good bet the interviewer won't admit it but only knows how to do a few.
This list is not meant to intimidate, but if you find you're not familiar with the ideas, you'll be 3 steps ahead if you use it as a to-do list to learn new ways to become more productive.
Twenty years ago (when the world was running on 386's, Wangs and Radio Shack TRS80's & most departments had a secretary taking messages) the list might have looked like:
Okay, for those who are re-entering the workforce, you may recognize some of those terms, but recent college graduates will probably wonder what I'm talking about.
Being "the one" who knows how to do something that the others don't can go a long way into getting you the job and also making your co-workers feel that you helped to save the day when a big presentation was going south or another deadline loomed.
More productivity ideas for the office from Ben Yoskovitz at the Instigator Blog. I met Ben at conference in Chicago about 18 months ago. He asked his readership for their best productivity tips. If you are feeling smug about getting a 90-100% on Seth Godin's list... take a look at the tips that are shared there.
Some of my favorites:
What's your best productivity tool?
One of the women in my Twitter network, JoAnn DiPierro, is running the kind of business that brings tears of gratitude to my eyes. She helps women who are fighting cancer with their housecleaning by organizing volunteers in the Akron area to donate 2 or 3 hours a month.
"Last year, JPT assisted 15 women at both offices and donated over $15,000 worth of services," explained JoAnn in a story in today's Akron Beacon Journal.
Read more at her blog: JoAnn's Pro Touch or in the Akron Beacon Journal article Hearts & Halos (scroll 1/2 way down.)
Although before we even set the interview appointment, I told him we didn't have any openings, he was still very nervous. Being shy is a fact of life for some people. But there are still three things he could have done to improve his interview, which would help him feel less nervous and more confident:
Interviewing is an important job hunting skill just like writing the cover letter and sending a thank you note following the interview. If you aren't sure about interviewing questions, check out some of the websites that have sample questions and examples of good answers.
This link Women's Networking Organizations has a list of many women's organizations that may be helpful. Volunteering, getting on a committee and working hard to prove your value will help you to get visability. Try to select an organization that someone who is considered a superstar in your field is actively involved with and begin to build your reputation as a solid team player.
Remember "what goes around, comes around". Be sure to thank the other members of the team, send handwritten notes, and follow up.
This may be helpful too.
Chart courtesy of: Hudson High School Guidance Dept.
British Museum
Originally uploaded by vividBreeze
I find that hard to believe... but maybe because I would have selected "want to" instead of need to... What do you think? Do most women work because they need to or want to?DO MOST WOMEN WORK BECAUSE THEY NEED TO OR BECAUSE THEY WANT TO? (Among women)
Need to -- 75%
Want to -- 13%
Susan Williamson, President of C-Trac is a business friend of mine, so you can imagine how delighted I was to read that she was recognized as a Woman of Note by Crain's Cleveland Business.Never feel like your stuck in anything, there are alternatives out there... I share with my friends, just make the best of every circumstance that your in...I met Susan years ago and worked with Ctrac in the early 90's. I highly recommend their services. Her company is really expert at what they do. -- You can learn more about them at their website: Ctrac Information Solutions: Database Marketing and Direct Mail Marketing in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
If you've ever considered a career in freelance writing, you probably realize that it takes more than a love of writing to make a go of it.
Here are some resources I've found that will help you get started and grow your freelance writing career:
Today's interview features Ashley Vincelli and Rachel Martin of Marketing Resources & Results. I interviewed them about how they got started in their careers. In this 9-minute career-focused podcast they offer advice and insight into the careers of Graphic Design and Web Design."Life Lessons for Women in Business Learned on a Film Set. " I'm reading this at lunch today! Just skimmed the first and last chapter, so I'm looking forward to more.
It is written by Danielle Weinstock, TV & Film Producer
Some of the valuable career lessons:
Yummy!
One risks becoming stereotypical in making general statements about what is unique among women leaders. I tend to think that all that I’ve learned from women colleagues/superiors I learned from dynamic individuals who happened to be women, rather than from women leaders per se. Research indicates that personality differences far outweigh gender differences when it comes to one’s leadership style.I think that there is plenty to be learned from watching and learning the various ways gender differences manifest in leaders. This is one of his observations:
I have also come to appreciate the “Relational Intelligence” of women leaders. The supreme importance of relationships among people and among organizations are critical to success in any enterprise.I met Mark several years ago at AMAkron Toastmasters. Toastmasters International is a communication and leadership organization. Most people think of it as where you learn to give speeches, but it is much more than that. It's where you learn to mentor, coach, evaluate to motivate and develop leadership practices that work.
Smart Woman Guide's author and publisher Vicki Flaugher was gracious enough to be interviewed about becoming an entrepreneur.Purpose of AllTop
We help you explore your passions by collecting stories from “all the top” sites on the web. We’ve grouped these collections — ”aggregations” — into individual Alltop sites based on topics such as environment, photography, science, celebrity gossip, fashion, gaming, sports, politics, automobiles, and Macintosh. At each Alltop site, we display the latest five stories from thirty or more sites on a single page — we call this “single-page aggregation.”
You can think of an Alltop site as a “dashboard,” “table of contents,” or even a “digital magazine rack” of the Internet. To be clear, Alltop sites are starting points — they are not destinations per se. The bottom line is that we are trying to enhance your online reading by both displaying stories from the sites that you’re already visiting and helping you discover sites that you didn’t know existed. In this way, our goal is the “cessation of Internet stagnation.”
I often hear people say something discouraging about their current odd job.Here's all the Results from the What I Learned From Odd Jobs Group Writing Project
So, the next time you're feeling a bit disgruntled with your situation, ask yourself...What lessons are you learning in the odd job that you're performing currently?
Who is the Work at Home Generation?
If you use technology to free yourself from a 9 to 5, to do work that you love, to get more time with your family, or just want to make money in your socks, then you're in the right place.
Although 2 Ticks & the Dog Ad agency didn't mention what they were looking for in the article or on their website, after reviewing their work on the website, I bet they're looking for video editing skills, copywriting, storyboarding... maybe even video camera work. Looks like they put out good work for a reasonable price judging by their awards and client list.The difference in salary between these two people can’t be more than a few bucks an hour, however, one cared and the other one didn’t. It’s a matter of character and pride.
I recently learned some very insightful ideas from a great speaker, Larry Farrell, who specializes in Entrepreneurship.
He works with Junior Achievement to help prepare materials for middle school and high school programs in an effort to help young people learn more than facts, to learn the principles of starting and running a business.
One fact: Young people will have more than 9 jobs before they are 40. Why not have one of these "jobs" actually be your business and employ people to help build your product or provide your service to the customers?
Larry's Four Principles of Entrepreneurship:
For more information, check out my Branding & Marketing article with more information about Larry Farrell and his mission of bringing entrepreneurship to the world.
"This was very informative and fun!! If offered next year, I will definitely come back." "It was an awesome experience and I now know what my future dream job is!"The day will conclude with one young woman winning the chance for a ride on the Goodyear blimp.
For those in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland State’s College of Business hosts Dave Cowan from Lubrizol to discuss “Sustainable Business Practices in a Global Economy”. It will be held February 21, 2008 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM in downtown Cleveland.
Dave Cowan the Public Affairs Manager at The Lubrizol Corporation has global responsibility for government and community relations. Jim D’Orazio is organizing the event. Jim's a friend of mine and a faculty member at the Nance College of Business Administration
Key topics include:
The event will be Thursday February 21, 2008 from 11:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. This is the third in a four part series on sustainable business practices.
This free discussion and networking event will be held at the Maxine Goodman Levine College of Urban Affairs, located at 1717 Euclid Ave, in the Bonda Room (UR 254) Cleveland Ohio.
Bring your own lunch but light refreshments will also be provided by the sponsors, Cleveland State’s Department of Marketing and the student chapter of the American Management Association.
Be part of a lively discussion that may help you identify a source of competitive advantage for your company.
To register, please email j.dorazio@csuohio.edu
Communication style: Gen Y employees speak a different language, so hiring and department managers need to practice a new style of communicating. Gen Y employees respond to humor, passion and the truth: don't even think of "spinning" a message with this audience. As Gen Y employees increasingly dominate the workforce, people who work with them should also realize how important direct and timely feedback, frequent encouragement and recognition of efforts are to 18-30 year olds. While this may feel like pampering to some, the outcome is a set of employees who are engaged and motivated to show their best work.
Getting ready to launch your career? Looking for help beyond the resume & cover letter? How about resources from the internet?!?
Dr. Debbie Plate has combined her role as doctor and public speaker. She spoke to a group of women in Akron to make us more aware about heart health. If you are considering a career as a health professional, you might not realize how much public speaking could play a role in your career.Dr. Plate is a communications person and a doctor. Besides speaking throughout the community, she is often seen on TV representing Akron General Medical Center and interviewing other doctors about their specialties.
She urged the audience to wear RED the first Friday in February to help build awareness of heart health among women. May 8th is the fundraising luncheon to help build awareness.
When something is the number one killer, and so many of the problems are preventable, doesn't it make sense that we should focus on this?
It's amazing to me that wearing seat belts and not cutting your vegetables & chicken with the same knife & cutting board or eating raw eggs seems like it has more public awareness than the actions that cause heart failure. (but I digress.)
If you enjoy public speaking, you are probably in the minority. Many people fear public speaking more than anything else -- even death, rattlesnakes or heights!! Making your career into something where you combine two passions can be a real great way to find the work you love.
And. Oh yeah. Go eat some vegetables for your heart!!
When I entered the workforce women made 56 cents to men's dollar. Although it is improving, recent statistics show women make only 89 cents according to a New York Times article from this year that discusses a Queens College study. Others say 75 cents, 76 cents or 12 cents. I guess it depends on how you measure: Hourly? Salary? Same job? Same education? Same amount of experience? 
Ann Ramsey Metzler knows what it takes to work in the high pressure world of trade shows, events, talent management and talent development. She recently relocated to Northeast Ohio after working 7 years in Columbus. She shares her career experiences while working at COSI and at The Ohio State University.
What training did you have? On the job training seems to be the best training in this field. I have learned more from my mistakes then my successes. Finding a good mentor has been critical to my success.Getting a job is a job on its own. After you do get the job, remember that someone else is probably looking too. Take the time to encourage them with advice from things that helped you. Extend a hand behind you and help the next young woman in line!!
Interview with: Fast Focus Careers, Creator and Owner Sunny K. Lurie, PhD.
Mary Ann epitomizes great leadership. From her early education at Saint Joseph Academy as a young girl, to John Carroll and Case Western Reserve University -- Education has always been a big part of her life. She sees it as the key to the future.
Giving back. Lending a hand. Leading the way. Helping others. Theresa is congratulated in this photo by Norma Rist, Vice President of Athena.
Last night in her opening remarks Norma challenged all the Athena finalists and recipents in Northeast Ohio (about 60 women in total) to develop a volunteer effort involving leadership for women within our community.
I'll be writing more about that later, I'm sure!!
Today's career exploration interview is with Sue Ann Schmidt. She is a minister at the First Congregational Church of Hudson, Ohio, which is the church where I am a member. I asked her to share some of her experiences and thoughts to help some other young woman who may be considering this career path.
Lindsey Pollak specializes in young professional career issues. She's a wealth of ideas and suggestions for twenty-somethings who are moving from school into the professional working world and speaks frequently at universities, corporations and business associations. Her book: Getting from College to Career lists 90 Things To Do Before You Jjoin the Real World. Here are a few: Although most of her advice is for getting the job rather than actually transitioning into the day to day working world, her blog is filled with helpful info:
Learn more at Advice & Resources for College Students and Young Professionals
It's a fairly new blog but she posts regularly and has great advice. Lindsey is a graduate of Yale University.
Special thanks to Elysa, a 25 year old Graphic Designer in Texas, who blogs to let others know how "our generation" is different than those before us. We are career women, single & married, girl friends, and individuals. There is a delicate balance in being an individual and being part of a support system for your friends, family and your environment. GenPink is about balancing family and work, technology, entertainment, and exploration of new ideas..
I found that the Center for Women's Business Research has many interesting statistics about women owned businesses.What is the difference in the businesses? Here are some of the things the Center discovered about the women with a business that generate over a million dollars in revenue:
I finally found the right thing to give as a graduation present.Question: What’s the right strategy for the search for a first job out of college?
Answer: Don’t place too much importance on your first job. You’ll have a lot more. Most people have eight jobs before they turn thirty, and that’s fine. It is nearly impossible to know what career will be a good fit for you until you start trying things. So give yourself the latitude to try a lot. And don’t get hung up on a big soul search. To land a great job, you don’t need to know the meaning of life, just the meaning of hard work.
Penelope Trunk writes career advice for a new generation of workers. She explains why old advice - like pay your dues, climb the ladder, and don't have gaps in your resume - is outdated and irrelevant in today's workplace. She has a reputation for giving advice that is counterintuitive but effective, like take long lunches, ignore people who steal your ideas, and stop vying for a promotion.
She is a career columnist at the Boston Globe and Yahoo Finance. Her syndicated column has run in more than 200 publications. Earlier, she was a software executive, and then she founded two companies. She has been through an IPO, an acquisition and a bankruptcy.
Sometimes you meet someone that you really admire. Right away. As soon as the first words out of her mouth. Sometimes there are two someones that you meet at the same time.Tammy: What advice would you give women about engaging conflict effectively in a corporate setting?
Liz: Someone recently asked me what I wish I knew when I first started working I said this: It doesn’t matter how good you are, if no one wants to work with you. For conflict situations I would add that the second you feel righteous, you are wrong in some very big way. If you can only see the problem and not the other person, you need to find someone who can help you see more.
Developing a personal brand will be very important as more and more graduates enter the job market as well as entry level employees begin to look at their next steps in their career. I asked Dan Schawbel to be a guest on Real Women-Real Careers because he specializes in PERSONAL BRANDING.
1. What are the most important 3 things a new graduate should do to establish personal branding?
Graduates already have Personal Brands but require more extensive training on how to create a strong Personal Brand. Here are my 3 tips:
2. How does personal branding differ from product branding?
Both Personal Branding and Product Branding are quite similar and mathematically, if you replace the product with the person and form a marketing mix around that person, it will have the same effect. Products are material objects, that are sold through a transaction from interest, being "top of mind" and in the customers evoked set.
A product is a symbol and has special qualities that differentiate it from others in the marketplace (non commodities), just as every Personal is different. The same tactics can be used for both a product and a person because at the end of the day, both need to be sold to the audience.
A product's brand is from the viewpoint of the audience and is based on appearance packaging), personality (overall attitude towards it, how does it make them feel), sophistication (a person's competency) and differentiation (which allows one product to be sold over another).
3. Most people resist being stereotyped. Isn't personal branding stereotyping yourself?
Personal Branding is not about stereotyping, yet one's brand is already stereotyped by it's appearance. The concept concentrates more on personal growth, development and creating a lasting impression with the audience.
It is about focusing on the positive in an individual and mapping it to their audience, which could be a recruiter or someone in their network. Stereotypes happen instantly and individuals can only control their behavior, body motions or attire, but not their skin. Personal Branding hones down on what you can control and that is the major difference.
4. How did you get interested in your career area?
Good question. I actually built my Personal Brand during college, without knowing that it could be considered Personal Branding. I branded myself by diversification and experience, with 8 internships in all marketing functions, 7 leadership positions on campus and straight A's. During interviews I had a great story to tell, from companies such as Reebok, Lycos and LoJack.
By doing this, I positioned myself as an excellent candidate for a full-time position when I graduated and now I work at EMC. Throughout college, my peers always asked me for advice and I started to value the idea of mentoring. I started brainstorming what I enjoyed most out of life, such as helping others, sharing advice and developing my own career.
I stumbled upon the idea of Personal Branding and I knew it was exactly what I had been looking for the whole time. Now I have my own blog on the subject and have written articles for other blogs and major magazines and newspapers.
5. What the interview question that you hate the most and how do you handle it?
My least favorite interview question was from TJX, which was "when was the last time you were in one of our stores." I was truthful, so I told them that I don't shop in stores anymore, but rather use the internet. Of course, they were less interested and I didn't proceed to the next round, but clearly that showed that it wasn't the proper position for me.
6. What's the one interview question you wished they would have asked… and were you able to weave your answer into the interview anyway?
I always wished they asked me how I could be a valuable asset to their company. I say this because my background was so diverse and I know that I could fit into any position in marketing that was open. If I was unable to obtain a spot for the position I was interviewing for, it might have set me up for an interview for a different position within the same company. You just never know!
7. What do you suggest a person does to begin their personal branding?
I call the first stage in Personal Branding, brand discovery. This is where you flush out all your interests, valuable, beliefs, attitudes, goals, objectives and network. The purpose is to have a full understanding of exactly where you are, where you want to be and how to get there. You must have both short-term and long-term goals and they must align for a higher degree of success in the future. Discovery is the most challenging area of Personal Branding because individuals might have no clear path or direction and this is when you would see a Personal Branding expert (such as myself) for further insight and guidance.
8. What are 3 action steps that someone can take to begin to brand themselves?
9. What's the biggest "No-no" in personal branding?
Displaying a negative Personal Brand or one that "appears" to be weak. By this I mean that an individual who breaks the law, picks a verbal fight with a co-worker or shows poor team skills. These are examples, where an individual brand is tarnished and it can have a lasting effect. Remember that your brand is always in jeopardy, so be careful with what you do and say to your audience. You will be judged on everything, which also poses an opportunity for you at the same time.
10. What's the one question I should have asked but didn't?
"How do you think Personal Branding will tie into online communities and the web 2.0 craze"?
What a really greatquestion!! I'll follow up next week to find out more! But for those of you who can't wait to find out... I bet you'll find the answer at the Personal Branding Blog
And to you, the readers, what question would you like answered on Real Women -- Real Careers?
Technorati Tags: Marketing, Branding, Personal Branding
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HUDSON (November 5, 2006) -- Sonia Engelman (standing), a Hudson Middle School 7th grader, asks a question of the three panelists about their careers at the recent "Real Women -- Real Careers" program at the Hudson Library. From left, Charity Beall, Certified Public Accountant; Sue Kirkhope, architect and Dr. Elizabeth Muckley, optometrist, offer suggestions for helping girls prepare for their careers.
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